Rotary snow plow



Feb. 26, 1963 B. ERTSGAARD ETAL 3,078,603

ROTARY sNow PLow Filed Aug. 4, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 //V VEN T0195 Syed/v ferfq Vim/0N J. Wwe/a5:

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Feb 26, 1963 B. L. ERTSGAARD ETAL 3,078,603

ROTARY sNow PLOW 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 4, 1960 5 mwa m m/ww m V50 o 7 www f j W4 L N .W mw y M| QN f United States Patent @ddee 3,978,5@3 Patented Feb. 26, 1953 3,973,593 RTARY SNW PLW i'dyron L Ertsgaard, Excelsior, and Vernon .1. Worrel, St.

Paul, Minn., assigners to Toro Manufacturing Corporatien, Minneapolis, Minn., a corporation of Minneseta iled Aug. 4, 196i), Ser. No. 46,611 l Claim. (Cl. :aL-43) This invention relates to snow plows and more particularly to rotary snow plows for readily impelling snow considerable distances from the plow.

A general object of this invention is to provide a novel snow plow of simple and inexpensive construction and operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel and improved snow plow including a plurality of helically arranged blades cooperating with a rotary snow-impelling deector for tlinging snow through a tangential discharge opening in the snow plow moldboard, the cooperative relation between the helical blades and impelling deector being such that the friction load exerted on the blade and delector is substantially reduced.

A more specific object of this invention is to provide a novel and improved snow plow including a pair of sets of helically arranged blades constructed and arranged for conveying snow axially towards each other, each set of blades cooperating with a rotary snow-impelling deflector positioned therebetween for flinging snow through a tangentially disposed discharge opening.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel and improved rotary snow plow including a rotor for rapidly cutting and llinging snow through a tangentially arranged opening in the snow plow moldboards, and a discharge chute adjustably mounted on the moldboards and cooperating therewith to permit snow to be readily and selectively discharged laterally on either side of the snow plow.

These and other objects and advantages of our invention will more fully appear from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like character references refer to the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. l is a front perspective View of our invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the invention with the power handle thereof removed, and one end of the housing and driving sprocket associated therewith broken away for clarity; and

FL'G. 3 is a front elevational View of our invention.

One embodiment of our novel snow plow, indicated generally by the reference numeral 1G, is adapted to have a power handle 11 detachably secured to the frame for supplying rotary power to the snow plow rotor. This power handle 11 which forms no part of the instant invention includes a power plant in the form of an internal combustion engine 12 and also includes guiding handles 13 having suitable controls 14 carried by the upper ends thereof.

Our novel snow plow iti also includes a frame 15 which is provided with a sprocket 16 adjacent one side thereof adapted to be connected to the power take off of the engine 12. Sprocket 16 has the upper portion thereof enclosed within a sprocket guard 16:1 and sprocket 16 is adapted to be drivingly connected to another sprocket 17, the latter being drivingly connected with the rotor of the snow plow and the ground engaging rear wheels 1S so that rotary power is supplied both to the wheels and the rotor.

Our novel snow plow frame 1S also includes a moldboard or housing 19 adjacent the front thereof and this moldboard includes spaced apart vertically extending side plates 2t) interconnected by rear curved plate 21. This rear curved plate 21 includes a vertically extending front portion 22 which, as seen in FlG. l, is disposed adjacent the forwardmost and upper portion of moldboard 19. The moldboard or housing 19 is also pro-vided with a pair of side plate extensions 23 which are detachably connected to the side plates 20 by means of bolts or the like and which serve to increase the swath of the snow plow.

Referring now to FIG. 3, it will be seen that moldboard 19 is provided with a centrally located tangential discharge opening 24 which permits snow to be discharged tangentially through the upper portion of the moldboard.

Referring again to FIG. 3, it will be seen that a rotor shaft 25 extends between and is fixedly connected to the side plates 20 of moldboard 19 and serves to rotatably support a rotor assembly 26 thereon. This rotor assembly 26 includes an elongate tubular member 27 journaled for rotation on the rotor shaft 25 and includes a pair of arms or straps 28, each carried by opposite ends of the tubular member 27. It will be noted that arms 28 are disposed substantially normal to each other and are spaced inwardly from their associated side plates 20. A snowimpelling deflector 29 in the form of a disc is disposed intermediate the ends of tubular member 27 and is fxedly connected thereto for rotation therewith. It will be noted that the axis of rotation of tubular member 27 is disposed substantially normal to the general plane of disc 29. Rotor assembly 26 also includes two sets of substantially helical blades indicated generally as 30 and 31, as best seen in FIG. 3. Each individual blade of each of the sets 30 and 31 is designated by the reference numeral 32 and it will be noted that each individual blade 32 has its outermost end xedly connected to the outer end of arms 2S while the innermost end of each of the individual blades 32 is iixedly connected to the snow-impelling disc and deector 29. Actually, the innermost end of each blade 32 extends through a slot formed in the disc 29 adjacent the periphery thereof so that a small portion of the blade extends beyond the disc as best seen in FlGS. 2 and 3.

It will also be noted that the two sets of blades 3i) and 31 extend in opposite direction about the rotation axis of the tubular member 27 and extend towards each other so that each of the sets of blades when rotated will cause the snow to move laterally towards the central portion of the tubular member 27 and to a point directly forwardly of the tangential discharge opening 24. The disc 29, as best seen in FIG. 2, is disposed closely adjacent but forwardly of the tangential discharge opening 24 and this disc 29 cooperates with each of the individual blades 32 for causing snow to be impelled upwardly through this discharge opening.

It will also be Seen that the individual blade 32 is spaced radially with respect to the axis of rotation of the tubular member 27 and that each of the blades tapers in width along its length so that each blade is substantially narrower at its outer end portion than it is at the portions closely adjacent the disc 29. It will also be noted that each of the individual blades 32 has a relatively small pitch as at its outer end and this pitch increases along its length as you proceed toward the disc 29 the pitch adjacent the disc 29 curving inwardly at an ever decreasing angle toward the axis o-f rotation of the tubular member 27 to thereby define a snow-delivering portion 33 which because of its angulation compels the snow into a small ball thus increasing the effectiveness of the plow. Thus, it will be seen that the blades Si) and 31 are similarly constructed to the blades defined in Patent Number 2,731,739. The blades of one set have their respective points of connection with disc 29 diametrically spaced apart. Similarly the points of connection of the blades of the other set are diametrically spaced apart. Actually, the points of connection of each blade of one set with 3 disc 29 is spaced equidistant from the respective points of connection of the blades of the other set of disc 29.

In operation, the rotor assembly 26 will be rotated rapidly by means of a sprocket 34 carried adjacent one end of the tubular member 27 and which is driven by sprocket 17. The sprocket 17, as pointed out above, will be supplied with rotary power by engine i2 interconnected thereto through the intermediary of driving sprockets 16. Since the individual blades 32 are spaced radially from the axis of rotation of the tubular member 27 and because of the peculiar pitch of the blades, the outer end portions of each of the individual blades are the portions of the blades which engage snow first. lnasmuch as the outer end portions of each of the blades 32 is tapered and is of smaller width than the inner end portions of the blades, a relatively small amount of snow is moved first by that end portion of the blade while the central portions of the blades adjacent the disc 29 in addition to cutting and moving the snow axially also cooperate with the disc for conveying the snow laterally through the discharge opening 24.

As the snow is conveyed axially of the rotor assembly 26 towards the center thereof, the snow-delivering portions 33 which are relatively broad as compared to the remaining portions of the blade cooperates with the rotary snow-impelling deflector 29 to function in the manner of a scoop for inging the snow through the tangential discharge opening 24. Since the disc 29 is rotating with the sets of blades 30 and 31, there is a friction load between the blades and the deiiector which is less than the friction load experienced between rotary blades and fixed deflectors. It will be seen that the horsepower required is substantially reduced. lt will also be noted that the cross-sectional area of the orbits of rotation of each of the sets of blades 3ft and 31 is substantially equal to the area of the disc 29 so that any snow conveyed axially by each set of blades cannot be thrown or conveyed axially beyond the disc 29. This prevents any of the snow from being impelled across to the opposite set of blades. When snow is thrown across to the opposite set of blades, the result is a fine fogging action directly ahead of the snow plow. All of the snow which is cut and conveyed axially towards the center of the housing will be flung through the discharge opening 24 by virtue f the close, coo-perative relation between blades and the snow-impelling deflector 29. It is also pointed out that the blades 30 and 31 also function in the manner of the helical blades of the snow plow disclosed in Patent Number 2,731,739 and that very little if any air is moved by the outer portion of the blades and hence the condition commonly referred to as fogging is substantially reduced or practically eliminated. The tapered blades 32 eliminate the movement of a large amount of air and hence a tendency to create a cloud of air with many fine particles of snow therewithin. lt will also be noted that the tapered construction of the helical blades 32 also permits the intermediate and inward portions of the blade to handle large volumes of snow presented to it for cutting in lateral conveying.

The side plates 29 of the mo-ldboard 19 are also provided with vertically adjustable roller skids or shoes 35 each including a roller 36. The shoes or roller skids 35 are provided with vertically extending slots 36a therein and are connected to their associated side plates by means of bolts or the like so that the shoes may be adjusted vertically to permit vertical adjustment of the rotor assembly 26.

Referring now to the FIG. 2, it will be seen that the moldboard or housing 19 is provided with an annular flange 37 which actually denes the discharge opening 24. This annular flange 37 has a mounting ring 38 affixed in coaxial relation thereto and mounting ring 38, as illustrated in the drawing, has a plurality of circumferentially spaced notches formed therein, as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3. A discharge chute 40 is adjustably mounted on the annular flange 37 and this discharge chute 4t) extends upwardly from the moldboard to cooperate therewith for guiding the upwardly impelled snow laterally of the snow plow. It will be noted that the lower terminal portion of the discharge chute 40 is provided with a mounting ring 41 which extends around the annular flange 37 to permit the chute to be rotated about a substantially upright axis for adjustment relative to the moldboard. This adjustment permits the chute 4t) to be rotated to cause snow deflected through the tangential discharge openings 24 to be thereafter conveyed laterally to either side of the machine during the operation thereof.

Locking means are provided for retaining the chute in adjusted position and these locking means include a bracket 42 fixedly connected to the chute and extending laterally outward therefrom, as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3. An elongate locking handle 43 is pivotally connected to the bracket 42 adjacent one end thereof and this handle 43 is provided with a hook shape locking member 44 at one end thereof. Resilient means in the form of a spring 45 engage the locking handle 43 and the mounting ring 41 to constantly urge the locking handle to pivot about a pivot 42a in a direction to urge the locking handle into locking position. It will be seen that the hook member 44 of the locking handle 43 may be caused to selectively engage any of the notches 39 to permit the direction of discharge of the snow from the snow plow to be readily selected. A plurality of clips 46 are fixed to the chute 40 and depend therefrom and includes an offset ring-engaging portion 47 which extends into engagement with the mounting ring 38 to cooperate therewith for seating the chute 4f) upon mounting ring 4S and around flange 37.

A deliector 48 having depending side portions 49 is pivotally mounted upon a chute 40 adjacent the upper end thereof by means of pivot pins 50. It will, therefore be seen that deflector hood 4S may be pivotally adjustable about an axis disposed substantially parallel to the surface of the ground. Thus, it will be seen that snow impelled tangentially upwardly through the tangential discharge opening 24 and thereafter through the chute 40 will ultimately be caused to be deflected laterally by a deiiector hood 48. The chute 40 is rotatably movable about a substantially upright axis through an arc of approximately from a position facing outwardly from one side thereof, to a position facing outwardly of the other side of the plow. Thus it will be seen that ultimate disposition of the snow may be selected to cause snow to be deflected laterally of the path of travel of the machine or forwardly of the machine.

Thus, it will be seen from the preceding paragraphs that we have provided a novel and improved snow plow including axially arranged sets of helical blades cooperatively engaging a snoW-impelling deflector member for causing snow to be flung tangentially through a tangential opening in the snow plow housing.

It will be noted from the foregoing description that the helically arranged blades and the snow-impelling deflcctor operate in a manner to substantially reduce the friction load on the blades and motor while simultaneously causing rapid discharge of the snow.

lt will also be seen from the preceding paragraphs that We have provided a novel snow plow and adjustable chute for cooperating with a tangential discharge opening to permit snow to be conveyed and deflected selectively to either side of the direction of travel of the snow plow apparatus.

Thus, it will be seen that we have provided a novel and improved snow plow which while being of simple and inexpensive construction functions in a more eicient manner than any heretofore known comparable devices.

lt will of course be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the various parts without departing from the scope of our invention.

envases What we cl'airn is:

A snow plow having in combination a forwardly opening housing having spaced apart side walls and being of arcuate cross-sectional contigui-ation, said housing having a centrally located tangential discharge opening in the upper portion thereof, a rotor mounted transversely of said housing and including a pair of sets of helically arranged Iblades extending axially towards each other and each set terminating axially inwardly in close proximity to the center of said discharge opening, the axially outer ends or" said set of blades extending axially beyond each side of said opening, one ot said sets of blades being arranged to extend about the rotational axis of said rotor in a `direction opposite to that or the other set, a circular snow impelling disc interposed between and connected in coaxial relation to the axially inner ends of said sets of blades for rotation therewith, the area of said disc being substantially equal to the cross sectional area deined by the orbit of rotation of said blades, said sets of blades Abeing radially spaced from the axis of rotation of said rotor so that the orbit of rotation of the blades is disposed substantially concentrically of and in very close proximity to said housing and the pitch of each of said blades gradually increasing in an axially inwardly direction whereby the major axial-ly extending portion of each blade from the outer end thereof inwardly cooperates with the adjacent concentrically arranged portion of said housing between the side Walls and the discharge opening to convey snow Iaxially inwardly while conning the snow against radial movement to thereby pack the snow against said disc and increase the bulk density of the snow prior to discharge of the same through Said discharge opening, the adjacent axially inner terminal portions of said sets of blades defining radially extending snow inipelling portions ixedly connected to said disc at circumferentially spaced points adjacent the periphery thereof, and each blade of one set having its point of connection with said disc spaced in a circumferential direction substantially equidistant from the respective points of connection with the :disc of the blades comprising the other of said sets,

said snow impelling portions of said blades cooperating with said disc to cause the -axially conveyed packed snow to be flung upwardly and tangentially through the discharge opening of the housing, an elongate vertically extending discharge chute rotatably mounted on sai-d housing in communicating relation with s-aid discharge opening and being rotatable about a Vertical axis relative to said housing, a deilector hood shiftably mounted on the upper end portion of said chute and being shifta'ole relative thereto to control the direction of discharge of the snow, a combination guiding and locking handle extending upwardly and rearwardly from said chute and pivotally mounted at its lower end on said chute for pivotal movement on an horizontal axis relative thereto, and releasable locking means for releasably locking said chute in an adjusted position, said locking means including a locking ring fixed on said housing having a plurality of circumferentially spaced notches in its lower edge, a horizontally extending locking element carried by the lower end of said handle below its pivotal mounting and being releasably engageable with any selected one ot said spaced notches to lock said chute in an adjusted position, said cooperating locking element on said handle being readily releasable and engageable from said selected one of said spaced notches upon pivoting movement of said handle toward and away from said chute, and `a plurality of circumferentially spaced and vertically extending hooks secured around the lower end of said chute, said hooks each having a horizontally extending lower portion projecting under the bottom or" said ring and rotatably securing said chute to said housing.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,480,622 Lee Jan. 15, 1924 2,198,237 Voorderman Apr. 23, 1940 2,587,415 Vanvick Feb. 26, 1952 2,642,680 Curtis et al. lune 23, 1953` 2,731,739 Miller Jan. 24, 1956 

